Report: Pope blesses Delaware lacrosse player and family that remains seriously ill from poisoning in Virgin Islands vacation

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Sunday that Pope Francis made one final personal meeting Sunday night before leaving Philadelphia for the Vatican – and met with the Delaware lacrosse player and his family of four who were poisoned by a pesticide during a Virgin Islands vacation in March.

Tatnall School’s Sean Esmond

In an article published Sunday, the Inquirer reported that Pope blessed the four members of the Esmond family whose illnesses made headlines in March.

One of the family members, senior Sean Esmond, was a standout goalie at the Tatnall School (DE). He and his younger brother, also an athlete, are conscious but still unable to move due to severe neurological damage, The Inquirer reported. Their father, Stephen Esmond, an administrator at the Tatnall School, still suffers from serious neurological problems with is speech and motor skills, the Inquirer reported based on a CNN report earlier this month.

Their mother, Theresa Devine, has recovered well, The Inquirer reported.

Sean Esmond was named to the Philly team at the Brine National Lacrosse Classic in 2014 and was interviewed by Lacrosse Media websites Phillylacrosse.com/TopLaxRecruits.com click here.

The family fell ill on St. John’s March 20.

Officials said they were exposed to methyl bromide, a highly toxic pesticide and is banned for use indoors in the United States. The pesticide had been sprayed in the condo below where the family was staying two days earlier, officials said.